Lawrence Wong flags Malaysian election influence attempts ahead of Singapore polls
Advertisement
Lawrence Wong , leader of the city state's ruling People's Action Party, said at a rally on Saturday that foreign actors, including a political party in Malaysia , had tried to influence the outcome of Singapore's elections. He warned that the mixing of religion and politics, as well as calls to support candidates based on race or religion, were 'very dangerous'.
Meanwhile, Pritam Singh, who leads the largest opposition Workers' Party, said his team categorically rejected any involvement of foreign elements in domestic politics. 'Singapore is our business – nobody else's,' Singh said at a rally on the same day.
Pritam Singh, Singapore's leader of the opposition and secretary general of the Workers' Party, speaks during a rally on Saturday. Photo: EPA-EFE
The warnings followed a government order issued to Meta Platforms Inc. to
take down several Facebook advertisements published by foreigners during the election period, according to a statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Elections Department on Friday.
This is the first parliamentary election since the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act was passed
in 2021 , which gives officials power to curb foreign efforts to influence Singapore's political affairs.
Authorities identified two members of
Parti Islam Se-Malaysia – a conservative Islamist party and the largest opposition group in Malaysia – among the Facebook posts.
Security personnel watch over supporters of Parti Islam se-Malaysia (PAS) during rally outside a polling station in Malaysia's Terengganu state. Photo: AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
HKFP
2 hours ago
- HKFP
Australia grants asylum to ‘wanted' Hong Kong democrat Ted Hui
Former pro-democracy Hong Kong lawmaker Ted Hui who is wanted by the Chinese city has been granted asylum in Australia, he said in a social media post, calling on Canberra to do more for those who remain jailed. The former British colony — handed back to China in 1997 — has seen dissent quashed since Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law following huge and at times violent democracy protests that erupted in 2019. Hui, a high-profile participant at the time who has since resettled in Adelaide, said the Australian government had granted him a protection visa this week, with asylum also extending to his wife, children and parents. 'I express my sincere gratitude to the Government of Australia — both present and former — for recognising our need for asylum and granting us this protection,' he said in a Facebook post on Saturday. A vocal critic of Hong Kong and Beijing authorities, Hui is among several overseas activists targeted in 2023 by police bounties of HK$1 million each. The bounties, which have previously drawn strong criticism from Western countries, are seen as largely symbolic given that they affect people living abroad in nations unlikely to extradite political activists to Hong Kong or China. In this Facebook post, Hui urged the Australian government not to forget other Hong Kong activists who remained jailed, including tycoon Jimmy Lai, who has been behind bars since 2020. 'Australia must do more to rescue them and to speak up for their humanity,' Hui said. 'Its stance matters internationally, and its protection of Hongkongers sets a precedent for other democracies.' He added that he and his family will 'give back to Australia in every way we can — through our work, our civic engagement, and our commitment to the values of democracy and freedom'. While Hong Kong's government did not comment directly on Hui's case, a spokesperson said Saturday those who absconded should not think they could evade 'criminal liability'. 'Any country that harbours Hong Kong criminals in any form shows contempt for the rule of law, grossly disrespects Hong Kong's legal systems and barbarically interferes in the affairs of Hong Kong,' the spokesperson said. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has previously objected Hong Kong's arrest warrants and bounties. 'Freedom of expression and assembly are essential to our democracy,' she said last month on social media. 'We have consistently expressed our strong objections to China and Hong Kong on the broad and extraterritorial application of Hong Kong's national security legislation, and we will continue to do so.'
South China Morning Post
04-08-2025
- South China Morning Post
Singapore opposition leader Pritam Singh defends parliament over tame debates
Singapore 's parliamentary debates may lack the fireworks seen in other legislatures, but that reflects the city state's pragmatic culture, according to opposition leader Pritam Singh. In his first-ever radio interview, the Workers' Party (WP) chief said the tone of debate mirrored the national character – serious, results-oriented and not prone to theatrics. 'When you come in from that perspective, you're really not there to throw things around, but you want to see certain outcomes,' Singh said on Monday during an appearance on Kiss92's morning show. 'Like society, we're all quite pragmatic, so we want the thing to work … and part of making the thing work is to make sure that you have a real debate in terms of real issues being brought up, and there being an exchange.' Singh was responding to co-hosts Glenn Ong and Angelique Teo, who noted that parliamentary sessions in Britain and Taiwan were often rowdy and contrasted that with Singapore's more subdued proceedings.
RTHK
30-07-2025
- RTHK
Australia to ban under-16s from YouTube
Australia to ban under-16s from YouTube Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the under-16 ban may not be implemented perfectly, but it was still the right thing to do. File photo: Reuters Australia will use landmark social media laws to ban children under 16 from video-sharing platform YouTube, a top minister said on Wednesday, stressing the need to shield them from "predatory algorithms". Communications Minister Anika Wells said four-in-ten Australian children had reported viewing harmful content on YouTube, one of the most visited websites in the world. "We want kids to know who they are before platforms assume who they are," Wells said in a statement. "There's a place for social media, but there's not a place for predatory algorithms targeting children." Australia announced last year it was drafting laws that will ban children from social media sites such as Facebook, TikTok and Instagram until they turn 16. The government had previously indicated YouTube would be exempt, given its widespread use in classrooms. "Young people under the age of 16 will not be able to have accounts on YouTube," Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters on Wednesday. "They will also not be able to have accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and X among other platforms. "We want Australian parents and families to know that we have got their back." Albanese said the age limit may not be implemented perfectly – much like existing restrictions on alcohol – but it was still the right thing to do. A spokesman for YouTube said Wednesday's announcement was a jarring U-turn from the government. "Our position remains clear: YouTube is a video sharing platform with a library of free, high-quality content, increasingly viewed on TV screens," the company said in a statement. "It's not social media." On paper, the ban is one of the strictest in the world. But the current legislation offers almost no details on how the rules will be enforced –prompting concern among experts that it will simply be a symbolic piece of unenforceable legislation. It is due to come into effect on December 10. Social media giants – which face fines of up to Aus$49.5 million for failing to comply – have described the laws as "vague", "problematic" and "rushed". TikTok has accused the government of ignoring mental health, online safety and youth experts who had opposed the ban. Meta – owner of Facebook and Instagram – has warned that the ban could place "an onerous burden on parents and teens". (AFP)
